‘My four handle it': Trainer Peter Snowden has a heavy hand at Randwick with King Of Roseau, Lavish Empire, Behtar and Flying Thinker
Champion trainer Peter Snowden has no concerns about his stable quartet, King Of Roseau, Flying Thinker, Lavish Empire and Behtar, handling the heavy track conditions at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
'We all know it will be wet but my four handle it so they will get their chance in these conditions,'' Snowden said.
The Randwick course proper is a heavy 10 after receiving more than 160mls of rain this week including over 60mls on Thursday.
But improving weather late on Friday and an encouraging forecast for Saturday leaves Randwick safe for racing, albeit on a very heavy surface.
King Of Roseau is the pick of the Snowden stable starters, at least according to TAB Fixed Odds price assessors, with the sprinter rated the $4.20 favourite for the Magnolia Lane Financial Services Handicap (1400m).
The striking chestnut three-year-old, a son of Snowden's 2016 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, goes to Randwick after successive second placings in similar grade.
Earlier this season, King Of Roseau showed his quality with a stakes placing when third to Amazing Eagle in the Brian Crowley Stakes.
Another photo finish at Randwick but Amazing Eagle, who resumed after 230 days, showed great fight to win the LR Brian Crowley Stakes under @G1TySchil for @GRyanRacing 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Zz8dD9Q7Lf
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2024
But at his two attempts over 1400m, King Of Roseau has finished unplaced – ninth in the Tapp-Craig won by Anode and eighth to Bosustow in the Magic Millions.
Snowden is more confident a maturing King Of Roseau will handle the extra distance on Saturday.
'King Of Roseau is stepping out to 1400m but is racing like he wants it now,'' Snowden said.
'He has been run off his feet in these shorter races but I've been loathe to put headgear on him as he can over-race.
'I'm hoping over 1400m he can stay in touch with them because he handles the wet and is a good chance on paper.''
Snowden is also optimistic about the winning prospects of Flying Thinker ($9.50) in the closer, the Wilson Asset Management Handicap (1400m).
Flying Thinker raced well over summer and early autumn before being freshened prior to her close fourth to Drift Net at Warwick Farm last start.
🥅 Drift Net wins the TAB Handicap at Warwick Farm! @KPMcEvoy | @JamesCummings88 | @godolphin | @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/8QNxxPk8I7
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 7, 2025
•
'I was really happy with Flying Thinker at Warwick Farm, her run was good, and she loves wet ground,'' Snowden said.
'She should revel in the going late in the day and is definitely a winning chance.''
Lavish Empire ($23) won by more than seven lengths on a very heavy track at Canterbury earlier in his career so he will enjoy the Randwick track surface for the Charity Challenge Handicap (1400m).
But Snowden concedes Lavish Empire needs to improve after finishing more than 20 lengths behind the winner, Punch Lane, at Randwick a month ago.
'Lavish Empire won the Muswellbrook Cup so he was in good form but then he didn't go a yard at Randwick last start,'' Snowden said.
'He's got wet track form but he struggled the whole way that day. It was a fast run race and he ran well-below par.
'When he came back in, he had a black eye and there were a few other little things that might explain his run.''
A busy finish in the Muswellbrook Gold Cup at @thebrookracing and it's Lavish Empire who books his Big Dance chance!ðŸ'ƒ
A double to @SnowdenRacing1 today with Mitch Bell in the saddle! @racing_nsw pic.twitter.com/14bBKQIuRJ
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 28, 2025
• Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday
Snowden said his initial thoughts were to spell Lavish Empire but the gelding continued to thrive after his last-start loss.
'We were going to tip him out after that run but he has done really well since,'' Snowden said.
'He missed a run at Scone last week but I'm happy to give him his chance on his home track.''
Snowden's imported stayer Behtar is rated only a $51 chance for the Fujitsu Airstage Handicap (2000m) but the trainer is quietly confident the former French stayer can turn around his form at Randwick.
'Behtar has been crying out for a wet track and 2000m-plus,'' Snowden said.
'His first run back was only fair, his second run very good, then he was not so good at Hawkesbury, but this race sets him up nicely for him.
'We have been looking at this race for awhile now and I'm expecting him to run a much improved race on Saturday.''
Snowden will be at Doomben on Saturday where he is saddling up Xidaki ($19) in the Group 3 $300,000 BRC Sprint (1350m) and Queen Of Dragons ($23) in the Group 3 $200,000 Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Mile (1600m).
'Xidaki couldn't get out to the better going at Gosford but wasn't beaten far,'' Snowden said.
'He is getting to his right trip now and it would not surprise if he runs a really good race.
'Queen Of Dragons is up against an even field and she's going well enough to be competitive, too.''
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